Rod for curtains, draperies, and the like



April 1o, 192s.

J. KERNES ROD FOR CURTAINS, DRAPERIES, AND THE LIKE Filed May 25, 1927 Y W0/ may.

Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES KERNES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIGNOR TO KERNES MANUFACTURING Co., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ROD FOR CURTAINS, DRAPERIES, AND THE LIKE.

Application led May 23,

VThe invention relates to a rod for curtains, draperies and the like, and is particularly for the purpose of supplying a rod with lamps which Will furnish light, which lamps are preferably concealed or screened by ornaments or embellishments.

One of the principal objectsof the invention is to provide lamps, preferably electric light bulbs, in the rod at the ends and intermediate the ends Which are placed in lamp sockets which are fixed and secured to the rod, and connected by Wiring Within the rod.

Another object of the invention is to place the soeketsand the lamp bulbs back of or within the ornaments which adorn the rod and are used to beautify and give a soft and subdued light and tone of elegance to the rod and the hangings, Whether they be curtains, draperies, portires, or other forms of decoration, and to bring` out their colorings and qualities. y Ordinarily curtain rods have not had features of beauty but atthe present time there is a demand for beauty andelegance in Window, door, arch- Way and other openings in theatres, halls, residences, apartments and other places, and the aim of the invention is Ato supply that demand. Y

It is a further object of the invention to provide a means for supplying light to the upper portions of the Walls and the ceilings in rooms, as in indirect lighting, wherein the rods are used, which otherwise would not receive light except from side bracket lights or floorlamps Where centre or ceiling lights are not used.

It will be understood that the invention will be highly desirable when color effects are sought in a room, since the curtain rod lights of the color desired Will act as auxiliary'lights to the other lights and thus add to the desired color scheme for the room.

A further feature of the invention is to provide the end ornaments of the rod with r such a construction that they may be readily removed for the purpose' of replacement and repair of the lamp bulbs and as readily returned to position.

Another advantage of the invention is that it obviates th-e necessity for using a valance since it supplies all the decorative effect which may be considered essential, particularly Where pairs of curtains, drapes, portieres, or other hangings are used and they 1927. seriaiNo. 193,395.

departing from the spirit of the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the rod of the invention showing the end and intermediate ornaments with which the lamp bulbs are associated, the rod being shown broken in several places.

Figure 2 illustratesa portionof the rod in section showing the Wiring leading to the lamp socket andbulb back of the intermediate ornament. A y

Figure is a crossjsectional view of the end portion of the rod and also an end ornament, showing the lamp socket and bulb in'elcvation, on thel-ine 3-'3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure et is an enlarged cross-sectional View of the rod and illustrates the' interior Wiring, the opening in the rod and the Wiring extending therethrough. l

Figure 5 is yan enlarged end elevational Viewy of the fitting at theend Vof the rod, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational view on the line 6-6 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows., and shows the manner of securing the fittings together, the dotted lines indicating offsetgrooves in the flange.

The rod vof theii'ivention comprises the hollow tubing 10 which may be of any length desired and Which may be square, as shown inv Figure ,round, twisted, or other desirable shape in erossesection. Thev tubing is made hollow` in order that the Wires 11 may be inserted into the rod or tubing'. The Wiring is brought into the tubing through the opening 12 vand extends to the light sockets 13, 13 at the ends of the rod and intermediatethereof. ,The other end of the wiring is connected to the terminal plug 14 Which may be fitted into a Wall, base, or ffoor socket and connects with thesource of energy to light the electric lamp bulbs 15, 15. A switch 16 of any suitable type may 'and intermediate the ends.

be inserted in the wiring circuit to control et fitting 2O is provided withl the outwardly the operation of the lamps.

The electric light bulbs or lamps 15, are partially concealed or hidden by ornaments or embellishments which are secured or attached to the rod at theends thereof It will be understood that these ornaments or decorations may be of any suitable design, shape, or configuration. The ornament shown intermediate the ends of the rod at 17 is a portion of a grapevine showing a bunch of grapes and leaves. One of the lamp sockets and lights is placed in permanent position on the rod 10 back of the ornamentation. It

will be understood, of course, that a cluster of' lights of the same or different colors may be used for the central or intermediate ornamentation.

The endlamp bulbs 15, 15 are partially hidden or concealed within the ornamental outer fittings 18, 18. These outer fittings *18, 18 are held together at their outer ends by pointed spirals 19, 19. The other, or inner ends of the outer ornamental fittings 18, 18 are removably and detachably secured to the ornamental inner or lamp socket fittings 20. These latter fittings are providedwith bushing extensions 21 which are placed within the tubing 1() at the ends thereof. Any suitable connectors, such as the connectors 22 which may be screw-threaded on the bushings 21, may join the ends of the tubing with the lamp socket fittings 20. The lamp sockets 13, with their lamp bulbs 15, are secured in place in the usual manner within the lamp socket ttings 20, with'the wiring extending through the screw-threaded bushings 21. 4

The ornamental separable members, which when joined together with any added ornament, such as the spiral 19 and the connector 22, make a complete artistic embellishment for the ends of the rod. It is ver important, however7 in order to insert the amp 'bulb in its socket and still preserve the light concealment feature to obtain the softsubdued light required, that the fitting 18 may be removed and detached from the fitting 20. When so removed and` detached, the light bulb may be screwed into the light socket, or a burnedy out or broken lamp may be removed from the light socket to be replaced by a new lamp bulb. l The fitting 18 vis provided with a cen trally arranged aperture 23 in its inner end through which the lam bulb 15. may pass when the fitting 18 is withdrawn from position in the fitting l20. The fitting 18 is fur ther provided with oppositely disposed projections or tongues 24 and 25. These projections or tongues aresOldered onto they fitting 18, or may be an integral part therof, and are provided with lsharpened ends and beveled surfaces 26 and 27. The lamp sockfittings 18 and 20 are extending and inwardly turned flange 28 which is providedwith the single aperture 29. The flange 28 is also provided with oppositelydisposed grooves 30 and31 which v1n the'oppositely disposed offset groove 30 between the ends 32 and 33. The fitting 18 is then loosely connected with the interior of the flange 28, but upon partial rotation either way, will become tightened and firmly fixed in position as the projections 24 and 25 are moved out of the enlarged or `offset grooves 30 and 31 into engagement with the more restricted inner surface of the flange 28. The bevels 26 and 27 are provided to furnish a firm contact and connection for the respective fittings as they are rotated with respect to one another. In order to detach the fitting 18 from the fitting 20, t-he operations are reversed. The Vfitting 18 is rotated inthe opposite direction causing the. projections 2li and 25 to move from engagement with the more restricted inner surface of thev fiange 28 into the oppositely disposed enlarged offset grooves 30 and 31. The projection or tongue 2e is brought into registry with the aperture 29 in the flange 28. The fitting 18 is then drawn away from the fitting 2O by passing the projection 24 from within the enlarged groove 30 throughthe aperture 29 and liftingy the projection 25 from within the enlarged groove 31. When the fitting 18 has'tlius been drawn away from the tting 2O and the end of the rod, the.V

socket 13 or the lamp 15 may be repaired or replaced. l

The rod is shown as resting on the brackets or supports 36 and 37. l

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pate-nt is:

1. In a rod for curtains, draperies and the like, a lamp socket in the end of said rod, a fitting surrounding'said lamp socket, said fitting having an inturned flange offset at opposite sides of the flange and forming two relatively short grooves on the interior of said flange, an opening in the edge of said flange in one of said relatively short grooves, a second fitting, said second fitting being provided with twoV projections, one of said projections being adapted to be placed in one of said grooves and the other of said projections being adapted to be placed in said edge said second fitting being provided with an aperture in one end, which is centrally arranged in the end, through which aperture a lamp normally connected in said lamp socket may pass.

2. In a rod for curtains, draperies and the like, a. metallic fitting attached to one end of said rod, a lamp socket in said end, another metallic fitting connected to said first mentioned fitting, said fittings being provided with means whereby a lamp in said socket may be confined in said socket, said means consisting of' a relativelyv sharp pointed metallic projection on one fittingand a groove in the other, the fitting having the groove being provided with an aperture permitting admission of the projection into the groove, said groove being offset and preventing complete rotation of the projection within the groove, since said projection is longer radially than said groove beyond said offset port-ion thereof and the end portion thereof becomes firmly but removably seated against the interior wall of the narrower portion ofI said groove.

3. In a rod for curtains, draperies and the like, a lamp socket in the end of said rod, a metallic fitting surrounding said lamp socket, said fitting having an inturned flange offset at opposite sides of the flange and forming two relatively short offset grooves on the interior of said flange, an opening in the edge of said flange in one of said relatively short grooves, a. second metallic fitting, said second fitting being provided with two oppositely disposed relatively sharp pointed metallic projections, one of said projections being adapted to be placed in one of said grooves and the other of said projections being adapted to be placed in said edge opening and in the other of said grooves, each of said projections being longer radially than said groove portions intermediate said offset grooves and the complete rotation of said projections being prevented since their outer end portions become firmly but removably seated against the interior wall of the narrower portions of said grooves.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of May, A. D., 1927.

JAMES KERNES. 

